Sunday, October 4, 2026

DraftKings Distances Itself From Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe After Trump Rally

  • DraftKings is evaluating Tony Hinchcliffe’s status as a brand ambassador, a source tells FOS.
  • Hinchcliffe has appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and the Netflix “Roast of Tom Brady.”
Tony Hinchcliffe
Credit: C-SPAN

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Tony Hinchcliffe’s future as a DraftKings partner is in question after the comedian made multiple racist jokes at former president Donald Trump’s campaign rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden. 

Hinchcliffe, known as “Kill Tony,” has been a DraftKings brand ambassador for several months, but a source with knowledge of the situation tells Front Office Sports that the sports betting company is evaluating the Austin-based comedian’s status as an ambassador.

Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” said Latinos “love making babies,” used an antisemitic trope and said he “carved watermelons” with a Black rally attendee. 

“I made fun of everyone… watch the whole set,” Hinchcliffe said on Twitter/X after his appearance at the Trump rally

The Trump campaign only took issue with what Hinchcliffe said about Puerto Rico. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Danielle Alvarez, a senior advisor for the campaign, said on Twitter/X.

The Bulwark reported Monday that the campaign asked all speakers for drafts of their remarks before they were loaded into the teleprompter. One joke in which Hinchcliffe was going to refer to Vice President Kamala Harris as a four-letter word that starts with “c” was identified and Hinchcliffe was asked to remove it from his set, The Bulwark reported. No other objectionable lines were flagged before Hinchcliffe went on stage. 

Hinchcliffe has written eight Comedy Central Roasts, and “tours internationally with Joe Rogan and appears frequently on” Rogan’s popular podcast, according to his official website. 

In a since-deleted post on his official X account, Hinchcliffe touted the start of the NBA season last week with a promo code for new bettors. Multiple other recent DraftKings promo posts have apparently been deleted. His account’s most recent mention of DraftKings is currently from June. 

Hinchcliffe recently appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay briefly when the show visited Austin earlier this month. He has appeared on The Pat McAfee Show’s digital-only hour that is not broadcast on ESPN. 

“The commentary made by Tony Hinchcliffe does not reflect the views of DraftKings,” the betting company said in a statement. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment. 

United Talent Agency, the firm that represents Hinchcliffe, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hinchcliffe was let go by his former agency WME after he was caught on video using an anti-Asian slur directed at another comedian in 2021.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 12, 2026; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin reacts to an intercept by Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Oxford Bulking Up Police Presence for Lane Kiffin’s Return

Ole Miss coach Pete Golden asked fans to be rowdy but respectful.

Robert Kraft Confirms He Blocked Macklemore From Gillette Shows

The rapper’s performances in New Jersey featured pro-Palestinian messaging.

Stephen A. Smith: McAfee Has a ‘Different Set of Rules’ at ESPN

Smith signed a nine-figure contract with ESPN last year.
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, attends the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at the Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., July 7, 2026.

Clippers Controversy Hangs Over NBA Board of Governors Meeting

Adam Silver is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Randy Levine on the Yankees’ $2.6B Apollo Deal and the Protect College Sports Act

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”

Female Athletes Rail Against Sydney Sweeney Nude Novig Ad

Pro and amateur female athletes say the spot sexualizes women in sports.
September 9, 2026

Prediction Market Ad Blitz Gets Backlash

Platforms are trying to capitalize on the start of the NFL season.
September 10, 2026

Novig CEO: Sydney Sweeney Ad Puts Us in ‘National Discourse’

Sweeney got equity in the company, and the racy ad went viral.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
LeBron James acknowledges the crowd's reaction as he takes the stage for the I PROMISE Family Reunion event to welcome him home on Friday at InfoCision Stadium in Akron. The event was hosted by the LeBron James Family Foundation.
September 5, 2026

LeBron James Jumps to Polymarket From DraftKings

His endorsement deal with DraftKings expired earlier this summer.
First at FOS
September 3, 2026

Three Big Tennis Tournaments Are in Prediction-Market Talks

Players are not allowed to partner with betting operators.
Aug 13, 2026; Metairie, LA, USA; Detailed view of the NFL logo on the football during a joint scrimmage between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars during at Ochsner Sports Performance Center
August 27, 2026

NFL Won’t Reach Prediction-Market Deals Before Start of Season

“I would be incredibly shocked if anything at all happens this season.”
Sports are shown on TVs behind a bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in Ohio.
August 7, 2026

DraftKings, FanDuel Downplay Prediction-Market Cannibalization

Traditional sportsbooks have a new set of competitors.